This is not the Bill Belichick we’re used to seeing.
Over the weekend in an interview with Charlie Weis on Sirius XM NFL Radio, the Patriots coach was asked about younger players playing more this season and the coach responded by saying there’s a lack of depth because of salary cap limitations.
Belichick defended the comments Monday appearing on Ordway, Merloni & Fauria saying they were not an excuse, it’s just a fact.
“Look, we paid Cam Newton $1 million,” he said. “I mean it’s obvious we didn’t have any money. It’s nobody’s fault. That’s what we did the last five years. We sold out and won three Super Bowls, played in a fourth and played in a AFC championship game. This year we had less to work with. It’s not an excuse, it’s just a fact.”
Belichick is not wrong with his assertion that the salary cap has impacted the roster for this season, but he’s leaving out an important part of managing the salary cap — getting good players through the draft.
The Patriots have not had very good drafts in recent years and it is catching up to them.
Since 2015, here are the players the team has drafted in the first two rounds:
2015- Malcom Brown (1)
2015- Jordan Richards (2)
2016- Cyrus Jones (2)
2017- None
2018- Isaiah Wynn (1)
2018- Sony Michel (1)
2018- Duke Dawson (2)
2019- N’Keal Harry (1)
2019- Joejuan Williams (2)
2020- Kyle Dugger (2)
2020- Josh Uche (2)
Of those nine players, how many feel like they are/will truly be legitimate impact NFL players? Two? Three? Definitely not more than that.
Getting impactful players on their rookie contracts helps teams offset issues with the cap and paying other players perhaps more than they deserve. The Patriots aren’t getting much from the players they have drafted and therefore are spending more than teams who do get contributors on their rookie deals.
Even in the later rounds those years the number of players contributing is limited to Shaq Mason, Joe Cardona, Joe Thuney, Deatrich Wise, Chase Winovich, Damien Harris, Jake Bailey and Michael Onwenu.
Yes, there are players drafted contributing, but are any of those players the core of the team? No. They are mostly solid role players.
The coach was even asked on Ordway, Merloni & Fauria if the lack of success through the draft in recent years has impacted the depth. His response: "I don't know."
Doesn't that answer the question?
So while Belichick is not wrong with what he said, he’s leaving out an important piece to why they are limited by the salary cap.
And what about what he’s said a few times relating to the salary cap over the years?
"Cap space can be maneuvered in a number of different ways."
Where is that this year?
This is unusual territory for Belichick as he hasn’t lost four straight games since 2000 and currently sits three-plus games back in the AFC East standings. Because of this, we’re getting answers we’re not used to getting.
Since when has Belichick cited past accomplishments? Never. That’s usually reserved for the Bill O’Brien's and Matt Patricia's of the world.
Will there be more moments like this the rest of the year? It certainly feels that way if things continue like they have.
Just like Belichick always says, we’ll see how it goes.